Page 6 - aruba-today-20190509

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 9 May 2019
Oregon teachers walk out in red to press for school funding

teachers are protesting.
"It just mystifies me that
adults just can't sit in a
room and do what's right
for kids," he said.
Oregon schools are un-
usually dependent on
state money after voters
changed the school fund-
ing formula in the 1990s in
an effort to limit property
taxes. Since then, lawmak-
ers have struggled to find
an adequate source of rev-
enue to keep up with rising
costs.
The walkout builds on the
previous strikes nationwide
but also shows teacher de-
mands are going beyond
pay, said Robert Bruno, an
expert on teacher labor is-
sues at the University of Il-
linois, Urbana-Champaign.
"Now the issues are far
more diverse, and they're
about cultural inclusion,
they're about fighting pov-
erty, about making sure
that you get schools some
Thousands of teachers and education supporters march in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, May 8, 2019. nurses," he said.
Associated Press For example, teachers in
Woodburn say they need
By GILLIAN FLACCUS and attended public school Kirk Kolb said. members to vote on the more counselors and sup-
SARAH ZIMMERMAN in Oregon and has been "Walking out of school and half a percent tax on some port staffers to respond to
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Tens teaching in Portland for closing school, we agree of Oregon's wealthiest busi- the increasing number of
of thousands of teach- more than 20 years, said that's not a message we nesses. Republicans say the students displaying com-
ers across Oregon walked she has seen dramatic want to represent," Kolb tax plan would raise the plex behavioral problems.
off the job Wednesday to changes. said. "We have to be there prices of consumer goods A third of students are Eng-
demand more money for "Every year, for the last 21 for our kids because they without fixing the educa- lish language learners and
schools, holding signs and years, there's been cuts rely on us to provide them a tion system. They also said over 40% of families rely on
wearing red shirts that have and cuts and cuts," she real positive, stable place." they would not support food stamps in the town
become synonymous with said. Districts decided whether a funding package that about 30 miles (48 kilome-
a nationwide movement The walkout follows a wave to close schools, and in doesn't address the state's ters) south of Portland.
pushing lawmakers to bet- of teacher activism that be- many cases, they will have pension debt, which has "They have to be both a
ter fund education. gan in West Virginia in 2018 to make up for the lost time. soared past $25 billion. teacher and a counselor
Schools around the state, and was followed by Okla- Portland Public Schools, GOP Sen. Tim Knopp says to the more than 30 kids in
including Oregon's larg- homa, Kentucky, Arizona for example, closed all Republicans are "in for the their class," said Cherene
est district, Portland Public and elsewhere. Teachers in day when more than 500 long haul" and won't re- Mills, a teacher at Valor
Schools, closed for at least North Carolina and South teachers said they would turn to the state Capitol in Middle School.
part of the day. Most of- Carolina rallied at their re- participate, spokesman Salem until majority Demo- Some parents said they un-
fered day care and free spective state capitols last Harry Esteve said. The dis- crats agree to renegotiate. derstood the reasons be-
lunch programs. week seeking more money. trict is adding a day to the About 1,500 teachers and hind the walkout.
An estimated 25,000 peo- Unlike other states, Oregon end of the year. supporters marched to the "It's inconvenient, yeah,
ple massed in a downtown teachers are not seeking The walkout comes as state Capitol, chanting, but it's something that has
Portland park for a rally be- pay raises or other union Republican senators are "Do your job!" to press Re- to happen," said Arman-
fore marching through the demands. They say they're blocking a vote on legisla- publicans to come back to do Gonzalez, who said he
city. The mix of teachers, walking out to highlight tion to raise $1 billion a year vote. worked from home to care
parents and students wore classroom conditions and for schools. The absence John Larson, president of for his two daughters. "But,
red to support the "Red for how years of low funding of all 12 Republicans for a the Oregon Education As- hey, what's a little inconve-
Ed" campaign that's tak- has affected learning op- second day Wednesday sociation, said Republi- nience when it's about do-
en hold nationwide and portunities. denied the Senate enough cans' refusal is exactly why ing right by our kids?"q
chanted that slogan. Some school administrators
It was one of many pro- didn't agree with the walk-
tests statewide that called out. In Grants Pass, one of
on lawmakers to expand Oregon's most conserva-
school funding in Oregon, tive cities, students are
which has some of the volunteering to wash fire-
largest class sizes and low- trucks or play music in nurs-
est graduation rates in the ing homes to show why the
United States. community should value /arubatoday/
Kathy Paxton-Williams, who education, Superintendent